Can opener



Apr. 10, 1923. 1,451,192 I R. H. WALLER I CAN OPENER Filed May 17', 19223 lo 4 I [a ||nn||||1mll|||||| lmunnll lllllllllllllllll WITN ESSESPatented Apr; 10, 1923.

UMTED s'raras raram' orrica.

ROBERT E. WALLER, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO QUICKSAFE MANU-FACTURINGQOMPANY, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CQRPORATION OF TENNES- SEE.

' CAN OPENER.

Application filed May 17, 1922. Serial No. 561,651.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, Ronnn'r H. WALLER, a citizen of the United States,residing-at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee,have invented a new and useful Can Opener, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to can opening devices of that class which employa rotary cutter in cooperation with a gage roller adapted to run alongthe inside of the bead of the can, with the bead clamped between thecutter and roller, whereby the can is positively rotated when the cut isbeing made; and the specific improvement consists in means forautomatically throwing the cutter into cooperative cutting relation withthe gage roller when the cutter is rotated in one direction, and forautomatically throwing the cutter out of operation when the cutter isrotated in a reverse direction. By this means, the bead of the can maybe more readily inserted in position and the construction of the canopener is simplified and made much more rugged and capable of performingits work.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing de-- tailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with theunderstanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strictconformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed andmodified so long as such changes and modifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the can opener in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the can opener showing the cutter automaticallythrown out of operation by a reverse rotation of the crank arm.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the cutter and gage rollerin cooperative cutting relation with a can.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a table top, to which is rigidlysecured by screws a base or bracket plate 2, having a centrally disposedstrengthening rib 3, and

4: to strengthen the same.

a vertical arm 4. The 'rib 3is continued upwardly and centrally of thebracket arm The bracket arm 4 is only employed when it is desired toattach the can opener to a wall instead of a table top. Where the canopener is to be used solely on a table top, the bracket arm 4 may beleft off when manufacturing the device.

Intermediate the ends of the rib 3 is formed a circular enlargement orboss 5 into which is adapted to be screwed a pivot bolt 6. One end of anoscillating arm 7 is pivotally mounted on the bolt 6, while the otherend of said arm is provided with an integrally formed bearing 8 for avertical shaft 9 adapted to be rotated by a crank arm 10.

A spur gear 11 is rigidly secured to the shaft 9 so that when said shaftis rotated by the crank arm 10, the gear 11 will likewise be rotated andmesh with a gear 12 on a shaft 13, whereby said last-mentioned gear andshaft are operated reversely to the direction of rotation of the gear11.

The outer end of the base plate 2 is enlarged and provided with anelongated slot 14, in which is adapted to travel, in a horizontal plane,the bearing 8 onthe end of the oscillating arm 7, the bearing beinglimited in its movements by the opposite ends of said slot.

Rigidly connected to the lower end of the shaft 9 is a collar 16. Acircular rotary cutter blade 17 with a beveled edge is slipped on theshaft 9 abutting the lower side of the collar 16 and removably securedin any approved manner to said shaft. The blade is maintained inposition against the collar by means of a washer 18 and a nut 19. Awasher 20 is mounted on the shaft 9 between the collar 16 and the bottomface of the enlargement on the end of the base plate 2 in which the slot14 is formed, said washers bearing against the underside of the walls ofsaidl slot.

Integrally formed upon the base plate is a vertical bearing sleeve 21for the vertical shaft 13. A washer 22 spaces the collar on the gear 12from-the bearing 21. Upon the lower end of the shaft 13 is rigidlysecured a gage roller 23, the bottom face of which is slighly spacedabove the cutting edge of the cutter l. The roller 23 is knurled andadapted to engage the head 24 of the can 25, and cooperates with therotary blade 17 to rotate the can while the blade 17 is making the cutin the can as shown in Fig. 1.

The can opener is shown in an inoperative position in Fig. 3. and inposition tor the inner wall of the head 24 ot the can to be ilaeed inposition against the knurled roller 23. hcn the rank arm 10 is rotatedin the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. the gear 11 isrotated and the teeth of said gear will engage with the teeth on a rack26 causing the bearing 8 to travel in the slot 14 and oscillating thearm T. The rack 26 is formed integrally with a bracket 27 castintegrally with the base plate. but it may be otherwise formed. 'hen thegear 11 is moved suiiieiently to be released from the rack 26 and engagethe gear 12. a continued operation of the crank arm 10 and thereforerotation of the gear 11 will cause rotation of the gear 12. \Vhilc thebearing 8 is moving towards the end of the slot 14. the cutter IT ismoving towards the outer cylindrical wall of the can 25. with the gageroller 23 in engagement with the inner surface of the head 'hen in thisposition. the head 24 is clamped between the revolving knurled roller 23and the collar 16. with the blade 1T cutting through the wall of the canjust beneath the head of the can. The rotation of the knurled roller 23and the collar 16 causes the can to he rotated while the knife 17 iscutting through the wall of the can. and the pressure of the roller :23and the collar 16 on the head 24 aids in maintaining the hearing 8against the end of the slot 14.

It will be seen from this. that the cutter is not only automaticallymoved to a cutting position relative to the can. but the head isautomatically clamped between the roller 23 and the collar 16 byrotation of the crank in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

hen it is desired to release the can. a re verse movement of the crankarm 10. as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. will cause the teeth of thegear 11 to he disengaged from the gear 12 and to be engaged with theteeth of the rack 26 by a slight rearward pull on the crank arm 10. andsince the gear 11 is being rotated by the arm 10. the bearing 8 will bemoved to the opposite end of the slot. away from the can.

By reason of the fact that the cutter is withdrawn away from the gageroller 23 when in the inactive position, it will be possible to insertthe head of a can in proper position and then swing the arm with thecutter into cutting position.

hat is claimed is 1. In a can opener, a rotary cutter or knife, 21 gageroller for engagement with the inner wall of the bead of the can,cooperatmg means for causing the cutter and roller to be simultaneouslyrotated in opposite directions, and means engageable with the (:0-operating means upon rotation of the cutter for automatically moving thecutter into 00- operative relation with the roller tor cutting the can,said means, when the cutter is reversely rotated, automatically movingthe cutter to an inoperative position.

In a can opener, a rotary cutter or knife. a gage roller for engagementwith the inner wall of the bead of the can, cooperating means forcausing the cutter and roller to be simultaneously rotated in oppositedirections for cutting the wall of the can, and mean engageable with thecooperating means upon the rotation of the cutter in a reverse directionfor moving the cutter out of cooperative relation with the roller andcan.

3. In a can opener, a rotary cutter or knife, a gage roller forengagement with the inner wall of the head of the can, intermeshinggears for causing the cutter and roller to be simultaneously rotated inopposite directions and means for positively throwing one of the gearsout of mesh with the other gear when said cutter is rotated in a reversedirection.

I. In a can opener, a rotary cutter or knife. a gage roller forengagement with the inner wall of the head of the can, and an armcarrying the rotary cutter adapted to be moved in one direction forswinging the cutter into cooperative relation with the roller forcutting the can upon rotation of the cutter. said cutter being releasedby the reverse movement of said arms.

In a can opener, a rotary cutter or knife. a gage roller for engagementwith the inner wall of the head of the can, and an arm carrying therotary cutter adapted to be oscillated for swinging the cutter intocooperative relation with the roller for cutting the can upon rotationof the cutter in one direction, said arm upon a reverse rotation of thecutter being oscillated to move the cutter to an inoperative position.

6. In a can opener, a rotary cutter or knife. 21 gage roller forengagement with the inner wall of the head of the can, an arm carryingthe rotary cutter adapted to be oscillated for swinging the cutter intocooperative relation with the roller for cutting the can upon rotationof the cutter in one direction, said arm upon a reverse rotation of thecutter being oscillated to move the cutter to an inoperative position,and means to limit the movement of the arm in either direction.

7. In a can opener, a rotary cutter, a swingable arm upon which thecutter is mounted, a gage roller for engagement: with the inner wall ofthe head of the can, a gear carried by the roller, a gear carried by thearm and adapted to mesh at times with the gear carrier by the roller,and means cooperating with the first-mentioned gear to cause the arm toswing the cutter into cooploo erative relation with the roller uponrotation of the cutter, and likewise to cause the gears to intermesh forcausing simultaneous rotation of the cutter and gage roller but inopposite directions.

8. In a can opener, a base plate, an arm pivotally mounted on the baseplate for oscillation in a horizontal plane, a shaft rotatably mountedon the free end of the arm and provided with a gear and'a cutter, thebase plate being provided with an elongated slot at one end in which isadapted to travel the shaft on the free end of the arm, a shaft mountedfor rotation on the end of the base plate and provided with a gear, agage roller on the second shaft for engagement with the inner wall ofthe bead of the can, and a rack on the base plate engagable with thegear on the swingable arm for swinging the arm upon rotation of theshaft thereon to cause the gears to intermesh and the cutter to moveinto cooperative cutting relation with the can.

9. In a can opener, a base plate, an arm pivotally mounted on the baseplate for oscillating in a horizontal plane, a shaft rotatably mountedon the free end of the arm and provided with a gear, a cutter, and acrank, the base plate being provided with an elongated slot at one endin which is adapted to travel the shaft on the free end of the arm, ashaft mounted for rotation on the end of the base plate and providedwith a gear, a gage roller on the second shaft for engagement with theinner wall of the bead of the can, and a rack on the base plateengageable with the gear on the swingable arm for swinging the arm uponrotation of the shaft thereon to cause the gears to intermesh and thecutter to move into cooperative cutting relation with the can.

10. In a can opener, a base plate, an arm pivotally mounted on the baseplate for oscillation in a horizontal plane, a shaft rotatably mountedon the free end of the arm and provided with a gear, a cutter, and ahand crank, the base plate being provided with an elongated slot, ashaft mounted for rotation on the base plate at one side of the slot andprovided with a gear adapted to mesh with the gear on the arm, a gageroller on the second shaft for engagement with the inner wall of thehead of the can, and a rack on the base late engageable with the gear onthe arm for swinging the. arm upon rotation of the shaft thereon tocause the gears to intermesh and the cutter to move into cooperativecutting relation with the can, and when the shaft on the swingable armis rotated in a reverse direction the said cutter is automaticallythrown out of roller, a rack engageable with the firstmentioned gear forcausing swinging of the arm upon rotation of said gear whereby the gearsare caused to mesh for simultaneous rotation of the roller and cutter,the rotation of the gears when in mesh oscillating the free end of thearm to carry the cutter into cutting relation with the can, and thecollar and roller into clampinrelation with the bead whereby said can isrotated.

12. In a can opener, the combination of a base plate,an arm pivotedthereto and projecting therefrom, said base latecarrying a gear, a rackadjacent the gear, and'a gage roller on the same shaft with the gear,and said arm carrying a shaft provided with a cutter, a gear to meshwith the first-mentioned gear, a collarto cooperate with the gageroller, and a crank handle for operatin the shaft on the arm.

13. In a can opener, a rotary cutter or knife, a gage roller forengagement with the inner wall of the bead of the can, cooperating meansfor causing the cutter and roller to be simultaneously rotated inopposite directions, and automatic means for causing the cutter to bemoved into cooperative relation with the roller for cutting the can whenthe cutter is rotated, said means, when the cutter is reversely rotated,causing the cutter to be automatically moved to an inoperative position.

14. In a can opener, cooperating means for cutting the can, comprising arotary cutter or knife and a gage roller for engagement with the innerwall of the bead of the can, means for causing simultaneous rotation ofthe cutter and roller, and automatic means for causing one member of thecooperating cutting means to be moved into an operative relation withthe other member of the cooperative cutting means, said automatic means,when the cutter and roller are reversely rotated, causing the movablemember of the cooperative cutting means to be moved to an inoperativeposition.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature.

ROBERT H. IVALLER.

